My sister slept with the light on until she was 27. She rightfully blames me. I would leap out of closets with my hands made into claws. I would...
Continue »
Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Wow, people really like this book. I'll admit I didn't read it until after the movie came out, a movie I had no interest in (although who doesn't look non-Asian actors playing Asians?). Plenty of smarter folks than I am think this book is some kind of masterpiece. And it is virtuosic to be sure, with it's dazzling blend of styles and possibly interconnected plot lines, but is sure isn't much fun to read. I dare anybody to read the "Sloosha's Crossin' An' Ev'rythin' After" section out loud without snickering. Heck, just read that title. I don't get the fuss, but this is certainly hermetic post-modern wankery on the vastest, most self-indulgent scale.
Was this comment helpful? | Yes | No
(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
Powell's City of Books is an independent bookstore in Portland, Oregon, that fills a whole city block with more than a million new, used, and out of print books. Shop those shelves — plus literally millions more books, DVDs, and eBooks — here at Powells.com.
Customer Comments
lukas has commented on (155) products.
Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders
lukas, March 23, 2013
An egregiously praised short story collection from a so-called "genius grant" recipient. If he's a genius, any schmuck can be.(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Tenth of December: Stories by George Saunders
lukas, March 23, 2013
An egregiously praised short story collection from a so-called "genius grant" recipient. If he's a genius, any schmuck can be.(1 of 3 readers found this comment helpful)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
lukas, February 27, 2013
Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Ready Player One by Ernest Cline
lukas, February 27, 2013
Like author Ernest Cline, who also wrote the screenplay to "Fanboys," I grew up in the 80s and have an affinity for the pop culture from that decade. And while I never self-identified as a geek, I read comics, played arcade games, watched sci-fi and was awkward around girls. I'm pleased to see that geek culture has become mainstream, but Cline's book is an example of the excesses and weaknesses of writing that is based almost solely on 80s pop detritus and the nostalgia of a generation. "Ready Player One" is basically "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" set inside "The Matrix." It's fun enough to read, but the proliferation of pop culture references (everything from Devo to WarGames to Joust) quickly becomes tiresome and serves little purpose other than for Cline to bond with the geek-o-sphere. Again, it's fun, but empty.(1 of 2 readers found this comment helpful)
Cloud Atlas: A Novel by David Mitchell
lukas, January 30, 2013
Wow, people really like this book. I'll admit I didn't read it until after the movie came out, a movie I had no interest in (although who doesn't look non-Asian actors playing Asians?). Plenty of smarter folks than I am think this book is some kind of masterpiece. And it is virtuosic to be sure, with it's dazzling blend of styles and possibly interconnected plot lines, but is sure isn't much fun to read. I dare anybody to read the "Sloosha's Crossin' An' Ev'rythin' After" section out loud without snickering. Heck, just read that title. I don't get the fuss, but this is certainly hermetic post-modern wankery on the vastest, most self-indulgent scale.(2 of 4 readers found this comment helpful)
1-5 of 155next